In August we announced the World Of Signage Photo Contest1, in which we encouraged designers, artists and photographers to go out with their cameras, shoot attractive typography and public signage and send us the results. The more obvious subjects we received were street signs, building facades, highway markers and road signs, as well as wayfinding graphics (i.e. directional signage) in public venues, subway signs, hotel and office signs and signs in shops, too.

And The Winner Is…

The winner of the digital SLR camera, the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS (EOS 1000D) is Julian Salaun53 for his photo “Suicide Signage”, taken in the underground tube in Paris. That’s a sign you wouldn’t normally notice; the unconventional perspective is attention-grabbing and makes the photo stand out with its almost ironic placement. Very unique, very original shot. Congratulations to you! (You should have been contacted by now.)

2,500+ submissions, 51 categories

We received almost everything one could think of. The response was overwhelming and truly smashing: overall, we received over 2,500 photos, some of which, though, didn’t pass our automated processing or didn’t fit our guidelines.

Overall, almost 1,500 photos are presented in 51 galleries below. With so many emails from so many people across the world, sorting the submissions manually was a daunting task. But that’s what we had to do. It took a lot of time, even with every member of our team spending a significant amount of time reviewing and grouping the photos. Interestingly, the most popular kinds of photos were road and street signs6 and warning and danger signs7, followed by train and airport signs8, venue signs9 and, of course, WC (restroom) signs10. We noticed that some photographers shot the same places at different times — what curious coincidences those were!

Showcase

Now, finally, the results are online. Initially, we planned to add personal comments to each one, but that would have taken months. Out of sympathy for our media servers, we have split the submissions across several pages, all linked below. Please check out the pages and comment on the photos you like best. We also hope we have achieved the goal of the contest: to provide our readers with useful and creative ideas on how designers worldwide combine type, visual design and pictograms in public signage.

Showcase Of Most Interesting Submissions

Some of the most interesting, creative and original submissions are presented below. Please note: each photo comes with a license, noted in the description of the photo. Before using the images for personal or commercial projects, make sure the license allows you to do so. Also, you can click on the photos for larger versions.

Beware of Falling Coconuts

From here you can go anywhere

From here you can go anywhere [ large preview71 ]"Should i see Skadarlija, Skopje, Moscow, maybe Moon? I think I’ll go for a drink at “Sesir Moj 2″." License: CC BY-NC-ND. Created by Marko Rosic72 from Serbia.

Don’t even think of parking here

Chinatown San Fran

Chinatown San Fran [ large preview77 ]"The main street that runs through Chinatown in San Francisco is Grant Street. Here the local color can be seen in the background of the sign." Created by Jen Mabe78 from USA.

Train

Skövde Central Station Sign

Skövde Central Station Sign [ large preview89 ]"A really beautiful, accessible and easy to understand sign on a Central Station in Skövde. The sign illustrates bus station, taxi and train platforms. Note that everything is also written in Braille code." Designed by Igor Jovic90 from Sweden.

FLine Up

Number 2 Is Open

Number 2 Is Open [ large preview95 ]"These are personal FedEx Kinkos Booths open to the public. Notice how the signs are slightly angled so they attract attention from down the hall instead of being flat on the surface of the doors… and aren’t the colors just wonderful." Licensed: All Rights Reserved. Designed by Stephanie King96 from USA.

Architect’s Gateway

Beware, polar bears !

Beware, polar bears ! [ large preview104 ]"Photo taken near Longyearbyen in Svalbard (or Spitzbergen), Norway, in October 2009. This photo shows the non attention paid to the sign, as the lady runs towards the land, where the bears are, as the sign says to beware of polar bears “In the entire Svalbard”." Created by Brian MathÈ105 from France.

Vacancy

1833 Salamanca

1833 Salamanca [ large preview109 ]"Metal shelled sign filled with original convict mined sandstone blocks." Licensed: Copyright Steven Clark with permission granted to Smashing Magazine to use in relation to this competition. Designed by Steven Clark110 from Australia.

Welcome to Salt Lake City

Up the 101

Up the 101 [ large preview121 ]"This photo was taken at the famous Taipei 101 building. What amazed me is that each floor you went they would write the height of the building. Clear fonts with an inviting graphics." Photo taken by Michelle Pei Ting Huang122 from Brazil.

Tehran metro exit

Handrail signage for blind person

Handrail signage for blind person [ large preview156 ]"Staircases’ handrails provide information label for blind people in one of the Nagoya’s (Japan) underground. As easy to notice there are braille characters on the left side of the handrail." Licensed: Photo was taken by myself. Designed by Piotr Domowicz157 from Poland.

Vienna Subway Map

Waiting at Gate #3

Waiting at Gate #3 [ large preview162 ]"Photo was taken while waiting for a flight connection to Brazil in Carrasco International Airport, Montevideo, Uruguay." Licensed: Attribution-ShareAlike License. Designed by Fernando Maclen169163 from Argentina.

Pit Stop

Pit Stop [ large preview168 ]"Photo was taken while waiting for a flight connection to Brazil in Carrasco International Airport, Montevideo, Uruguay." Licensed: Attribution-ShareAlike License. Designed by Fernando Maclen169163 from Argentina.

Bike sign

Three Signs In A Row

Three Signs In A Row [ large preview187 ]"I liked the three layers of the signs. One on the glas window, one behind on the wall, and the reflection of one sign on the oppsite side of the glas window.." Designed by Andris Linz188 from Switzerland.

Ballyvaughan

Ecuador Sign, Ecuador

Ecuador Sign, Ecuador [ large preview252 ]"This photo shows both the coordinates of the location, as well as the actual line passing below the sign to mark the equator, or “The Middle of the World” as they call it in Ecuador." Photo taken by Tessa K. Marmion from USA.

Mount Maido’s direction

Berlin Street Signs

Berlin Street Signs [ large preview257 ]"Street signs in Berlin-Kreuzberg, with the characteristic German ‘eszett’ and several ‘tz’ ligatures." License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/. Created by Florian Hardwig258 from Germany.

Alborzmountain

Thanks!

Thanks to all participants for taking the time to prepare and submit their photos for this contest and for contributing to the unique and diverse gallery presented here. We truly appreciate and respect your effort and time, folks. And please stay tuned for our next contest! Let us know what kind of contest you would like it to be; we look forward to your comments in this post!

mike i

Vitaly Friedman

mike i, thank you for your opinion. We are always glad to receive constructive criticism. Could you please describe photos from this page that you think should win the contest? Can you please be more concrete?

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mike i

Sure thing. It’s just that the photo you chose has no emotion to it. You said you wouldn’t notice it, which isn’t true. If it’s a double track than there are people standing on the other side of the tracks, that’s who this sign is faced at. So everybody sees it. It’s not ironic to put a sign saying not to jump on the tracks right next to the tracks, it wouldn’t do much good in the bathroom.

As for better choices: polar bears, 1833 salamanca, end, no jumping be careful the safe.

But my choice would be “Corner in Primary”. To me this is a perfect example of good photography. It’s stopping a moment in time that will never be seen again. The sign looked different yesterday, and it will look different tomorrow. And it’s cool how the sign can still be read even though it’s being worked on.

Just my opinion :)

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Ivy

I must say I completely agree with Mike, I was so surprised (and disapointed) when I saw the winning picture. I guess you didn’t know that the sign was put there so that people standing on the other side could see it.
My favorites : No jumping be careful the safe, Texturized wall and Which Way

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Andrew

I have to agree with the above. The sign is on the opposite side of a platform – so anyone standing on the actual platform can see it. Making your reasoning for the win … well … it was a free competition and great work looking through all those photos.

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Prabaharan

Edward Artiste

Um, not to be rude to another fellow artist, but this picture is just not that great. if he took in on the tracks, that would have been better (risk for a great shot counts for something, no?)…even the composition is wonky. The sign itself is neither unique nor otherwise captivating.

Essentially, i’m wondering how this managed to win. It just doesn’t deserve it compared to the many, many better submissions. The judges must have been smoking that really good stuff :P

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Vitaly Friedman

We are always glad to receive constructive criticism. The idea mattered more than the execution in this contest. Could you please describe photos that you think should win the contest? Can you please be more concrete?

Keila Vieira

I regard the opinion about the poorest choice that was made. I can find plenty of others photos which better fill the accuracy asked by the contest. I may understand your criteria because on some originality of the sign. Not being disrespectful to the winner, but I absolutely can find better ones following the typography concepts and also originality.

Kram

iEnde

David A

Thanks for the contest and the great diversity, Vitaly. My favorites, in order:
1. Mixed signals (funny on so many levels, but being a State Farm Insurance office sends it over the top)
2. Rock and roll (commentary by the dog makes it)
3. No jumping (I wonder what the fine is for jumping. Oh.)
4. Caixa pictograms (Good signage, great juxtaposition)
5. Don’t even THINK (so New York)

Joao Polo

Brian Mathé

Aah I’m glad you chose my picture for the showcase (polar bears), I knew there were some potential lovers of this one ! I didn’t win the SLR though, but that makes you all know the website I designed for the round the world cycling adventure we prepared during 2 years with friends :)

Like many others, I’m a bit disappointed by the winner. But great submissions everyone ! Can’t wait to see other contests like that !

ta seur

Dejan

A suggestion.
Every eye forms its own beauty and it’s hard to say: this photo is the best and these are just good. Maybe you should think of putting out 10 best photos and let users of SM to choose the best. I’m sure every vote would have its own argument. It’s just my opinion.

I think these contests are great, and I would participate in this one if the deadline wouldn’t be to soon:)

radam

Yani

I cant remember the brief, but I would of thought the quality of photo would win not the just the idea. Concept, execution and something that really catches your eye would be all things I would look for in a winning picture.

I mean congrats to the winner still…..but like the majority I disagree and find nearly all the other photos ahead of this.

Massimo

Vikesh Patel

I really like the winning image, because of the unique position the sign is in, and the risk the photographer took to get onto the tracks and take the picture.
I also like ‘No jumping be careful the safe’, showing the different ranges of the mountains emphasises the message on the sign board really well.

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Michel Bozgounov

What if this is not a double-track and the sign really can be seen from standing on the tracks only?? (I suppose the picture itself is taken from the platform, with the camera hand-held next to the sign. I am right?)

Congrats to the winner — but let me also say that I liked most of the other submissions (featured here) as well! Some very good ones between them!

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Stefdem

Just to say that mister Julien Salaun don’t own the right to use a picture taken in the Paris Subway.
The copyright is the property of RATP (Transports in Paris). I’m quite sure that he have not the permission to use it.

jeans

xell

I’m also a bit surprised with the winning picture, i think there are others that should deserve the prize the best, such as “No Jumping, Be Careful the Safe” (very nice to remember trekkers not to jump into the emptiness!!), the “Airport Security Check” (very funny sign, with the security guy with some type of mirror), the Moon one (just crazy in my opinion) or even the so-impressive “Which way” (is it really useful in real life?).
I think that next time the internauts should have the opportunity to represent a part of the vote as well :)
And yes, i also must say that the winning sign is very visible for those passengers waiting on the other side platform, so i don’t understand what makes the winning picture special… also it’s not well taken in terms of that it’s not possible to actually read it…
I would like to know what are the criteria used in the contest, that would help to understand the final desicion :)
Anyway, great iniciative for Smashing Magazine! :)

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yann lorber

Thank you for the hard work Vitaly !
Congrats to the winner :) I like the fun bit of the picture :)
But I have a preference for “Which Way”.
And very glad to read nice comments about my picture : “No jumping be careful the safe”

Hag Douglas

JFlores

Don’t you people understand that the sign is there so that the people on the other side of the track can read it? Is this a winner picture? I think its lame and completely stupid, no offense to the photographer, it could be that he or she never saw a subway, just like the jury.

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